Although six times nominated for the Grammy Award, Nnenna Freelon has never had the recognition of holding the coveted prize in her hands. Nevertheless, she can be sure of the appreciation of critics and audience alike, who revere her as one of the most influential vocalists of our times. Nnenna Freelon’s new album “Homefree” (“Concord”) embraces with the feeling of freedom – as much inspired by the title, as it is confirmed by her take on the songs. Her voice is weaved of determination, flight, imagination, inspiration, magnificence. A true lady of jazz!

The compact arrangements for piano, guitar, bass and percussion are awesome and irresistible. The choice of songs concentrates on jazz standards, compositions from the stage and the silver screen.

Top of the selection for the album are three very important songs. The first of these is Nnenna’s own “Cell Phone Blues” – a poignant and (self-)ironic tale about today’s addiction to modern technology that is robbing us of true emotions and sincere communication. The album ends with two hymns – the religious and widely regarded as “The Black National Anthem” – “Lift Every Voice And Sing”, and the all-Americans patriotic song “America The Beautiful”. The former bursts with the strongest social call in the whole album. On the background of the original composition about the voice of the people lifting to the skies, is Freelon’s son – Pierce – rap on the American Blacks fight for rights in the past and the largely shallow civil sensitiveness on this issue today. Pierce Freelon is not only a musician, but also a high-profile researcher and proponent on the African American Heritage in the United States.

The release of “Homefree” marks the longest break in Nnenna Freelon’s recording career. Instead of the two-year pause between recordings, it took five years for this album to come out. The result meets the highest expectations. No doubt, the seventh Grammy nomination must be followed by a Grammy Award.

Release Date: 20 April 2010
Reviewed by Svetoslav Nikolov